In late September of last year, fears of a recession and widely predicted declines in corporate profits dominated the financial press. As could be expected, investor sentiment soon followed suit and U.S. stocks went into steep declines.

First Trust Credit Union is celebrating Small Business Week from May 6-11, 2019! Small Business Week is a nationally recognized week that celebrates the positive impact that small business owners and entrepreneurs have on the communities they serve. Come in to any First Trust Credit Union branch during Small Business Week to open a business savings AND checking account and receive a free gift as a token of our appreciation.

April is National Financial Literacy month so we are going back to financial planning basics. Last week we discussed the first two steps in the process toward financial independence used by many financial advisers, and promoted by financial media personalities such as Dave Ramsey.

April is national financial literacy month. A topic near and dear to my heart. If I had to give America a financial literacy grade I would say we have a solid C+, but I believe we are trending higher. The very fact we have a high-profile financial literacy month is encouraging in its own right.

Have you bought a carton of eggs lately? If so, you might have been pleasantly surprised to see how inexpensive they are these days. As of this writing, they’re averaging a 48% national price drop from two years ago.

With April 15 fast approaching, we are getting down to the wire on taking steps to potentially reduce your tax bill. As I mentioned in the column a couple of weeks ago, almost immediately following the Tax Reform and Jobs Act of 2017, the government immediately adjusted tax withholding tables in an effort to make the effects of the tax reduction immediately felt in paychecks.

For 50 years, Tudor Floors and More Carpet One has kept houses across the Region stylish and practical with their catalog of floors, carpets, cabinets, and other home furnishings. Through three generations, this independent, family-owned co-op has been about a lot more than just the family livelihood. It is their pride, joy, and the culmination of 50 years of community engagement.

“This anniversary is huge. It’s pretty unusual and unique that we’ve got the same ethics that we’ve had since the first generation to the third. That kind of longevity in any family business is rarely heard of,” said Jan Tudor, Owner. “We don’t make commission. We’re not trying to push a specific product to benefit our employees. Everything we do is to make sure our customers get the best quality for their situation.”